WOOD News

Michigan-Flint Engineering Enrollment Grows

by The Associated Press

The University of Michigan-Flint is responding to a growth in its engineering program by investing in high-tech equipment for the students.

Engineering enrollment has reportedly doubled since 2008 and now stands at 320 students. To meet the demand, the school has acquired a $75,000 microscope that magnifies objects 60,000 times and expects to get a $100,000 three-dimensional printer. The department also is hiring two new professors.

Physics and engineering professor Mojtaba Vaziri says engineering is growing rapidly and the equipment to teach students must keep pace.

The new scanning electron microscope will help students take a closer look at materials such as cells or a heated piece of metal to look for cracks. The school expects to get the 3D printer next month.